by Eduardo Martín Quiñones and Sophie Kelly
In the first part of this series, Eduardo makes the connection between disaster capitalism and the clean energy transition. We urgently need to embrace renewable energy, but the interests of fossil fuel companies and electric utilities take precedence in our current economic system, putting profit before the wellbeing of communities and our futures.
“Disaster capitalism exists by capitalizing on people’s fear of scarcity and volatility”
If you remember our review of Leah Stokes’ book, Short Circuiting Policy, we explored the concept of fossil fuel and electric utility domination. Through political spending (and outspending clean energy advocates and climate advocates) and the influence of powerful interest groups, fossil fuel companies and electric utilities have halted climate action, reversed clean energy policies, and fueled climate denial. And not only do they achieve their goals through political spending and influence, but as we explored in the first part of this series, they also have federal subsidies on their side. Every year our federal government upholds the archaic oil and gas industry to the tune of $15 billion (say what?!).
A good example of this happened in our own state of Massachusetts when Enbridge, Eversource, and National Grid secretly funded the Mass Coalition for Sustainable Energy in order to block decarbonization and clean energy legislation and support fossil fuel infrastructure projects.
Disaster capitalism exists by capitalizing on people’s fear of scarcity and volatility and it has allowed private companies and the profits of a small few to jeopardize energy democracy.
“The biggest issues facing us–like climate change, racism, sexism, colonialism–are deeply interconnected”
How do we challenge this?
As Jennie Stephens argues in her book, Diversifying Power, “[our] renewable based future will be founded on abundance and predictability,” and we will achieve this future through antiracist, feminist leadership.
Antiracist leadership is rooted in the “continual recognition of and active resistance to racism in all its many forms and structures” (Stephens, p.12). Say it louder for the people in the back… antiracism requires active resistance to ANY and ALL racism! And in the same vein, feminist leadership requires recognizing and resisting misogyny in all of its many forms and structures. So antiracist and feminist leadership is, at its core, the recognition that the biggest issues facing us–like climate change, racism, sexism, colonialism–are deeply interconnected.
Team Climable Fall 2021. (From left: Pepper, Jeannie, Jen, Charlie, Sophie, Hannah, Malia, Lia)
Part of what fuels Climable and makes us feel hopeful is knowing that the energy transition will provide us an opportunity to empower local energy production and control, while also giving communities autonomy, access to local jobs, and greater climate resilience.
And, as Jennie Stephens explores, the “climate crisis is a crisis in leadership.” So the antidote to disaster capitalism, fossil fuel and energy utility domination, and exploitative systems that hurt communities is uplifting bold and ambitious leaders who are closer (if not part of) the families and communities that are on the frontlines of climate change… who are hit first and worst. It’s clear that “if we continue to rely on climate solutions proposed by those who are unaware of or indifferent to racism and sexism, we are guaranteed to reinforce those inequities” (p.13).
We at Climable are always striving to apply an antiracist and climate feminist lens to all we do. If you are interested in learning more we have lots of places we can point you- here’s a quick list, but reach out if you want more!
- Diversifying Power by Jennie Stephens
- Revolutionary Power by Shalanda Baker
- Short Circuiting Policy by Leah Stokes
- How to be Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
- How to Save a Planet podcast
- Hot Take podcast
- Atmos Magazine